The defence Professor was a man on a mission, for the last 3 days the same thought had been tumbling round in his mind and it was driving him to distraction, so much so he gave a student the wand movement for a curse instead of the spell to protect themselves from it.

So now he was going to the one man that could provide him with the answers he was in dire need of. By the name of all that was magical he wasn't leaving the office until he was satisfied he had been given the right one.

The stone Gargoyle jumped out of the way at the curt tone the Professor afforded when giving the password, riding up the spiral staircase he schooled his expression and attempted to calm his nerves, it wouldn't serve well to go in there all guns blazing.

'Enter' came the silky voice that did things to him he would rather not think about at this particular time.

Professor Weston entered the office to find Minerva McGonagall sitting in front of the headmaster's desk, they were deep in conversation and he considered coming back at a later time.

'I can come back if you're busy headmaster' he said

'No need Professor we are almost finished here' Severus replied 'Do take a seat I won't be long'

The Professor sat down on the couch near a set of cabinets waiting patiently, while the others wrapped up their meeting

Minerva stood from her place a few minutes later, gathered her things together and made her way to the door, bidding Severus good bye she turned and looked at the young man sitting on the couch

'Welcome back' she whispered

Harry must have looked like a fish out of water, his mouth gaping open, and no sound coming out of it. She gave him one of her cat like grins and went out the door. For the next few seconds he sat there stunned, was there anyone that hadn't figured out who he really was.

'What do I owe the pleasure of your company Professor?' Severus asked

'How- how did she know?' Harry stuttered

'She knows everything, but rest assured your secret is safe with her' Severus said sincerely

'Its fast not becoming a secret' Harry muttered 'There is something I have to ask you headmaster and I would like the truth'

'Ask away' Severus answered

'The other day when I told the others that it was really me, Draco said that now you could stop moping around the castle, what did he mean?' Harry asked plainly

Severus moved from his desk and came to sit next to Harry on the couch, he looked into inquiring eyes, and not the deep green pools he usually did, but dark amber.

'Harry for some time now I have been very lost and very down as my godson so succinctly put it, that was due to the fact I believed you to be married to Miss Weasley, you see I have been in love with you for a long time, I never thought I would get the chance to tell you that, but when you came here as another person and I realised it was you, I dared to hope that I might get that chance. It would have been planned a little better had Draco not opened his mouth' Severus explained

'You're not in love with me Harry, you're in love with who I am now' Harry stated

'No Harry I am very much in love with you regardless of the persona you take on' Severus assured him

'I don't know what to say' Harry murmured 'are you sure?'

'Very sure' Severus smiled 'I have never been more certain of anything in my life'

'What happens now?' Harry asked 'If you are telling the truth that its really Harry Potter you love and not Blair Weston, then you know that I have to stay this way I can't risk changing back'

'It is the truth and I understand that and would never ask you to put yourself at risk more than you already have' Severus said gently 'I am old fashioned when it comes to romance Harry, I want to court you, pursue you, entice you into my web'

'What am I lunch or a possible love interest?' Harry quirked a brow

'Both' Severus said quietly

'Am I now?' Harry smirked 'You going to protect me from the big bad witches?'

'Definitely, I won't allow them to hurt my lion' Severus blushed slightly

'You're lion someone's optimistic' Harry chortled 'By the way that blush is very cute'

Severus raised a questioning brow at being referred to as cute, Harry just grinned

'What happens in this web enticing courtship?' Harry asked

'I will show you how much I love and cherish you, I may if you permit me, kiss you on occasion, there might be small touches here and there' Severus said softly

'Oh it all sounds very romantic' Harry smiled 'When do I have to give you an answer?'

'Whenever you're ready, but I hope you won't mind if I brush my hand over yours once in a while' Severus countered

'I think I can handle that' Harry mused 'Will there be dates?'

'We can have dates here in my rooms or yours if you prefer' Severus agreed 'I would like to say one thing though'

'Go ahead' Harry gestured

'I won't ever stop loving you Harry, or showing you just how much I do, even if you turn me down I will never stop' Severus said honestly

'Why me?' Harry asked a question of his own

'Because you are my forever' Severus said wholeheartedly

'That's very sweet Severus thank you' Harry smiled warmly 'I better go my papers won't grade themselves'

'No and my paperwork won't sort itself either' Severus sighed

He walked Harry to the door and lingered for a moment, the young Professor had his hand on the handle ready to turn when he saw the look in Severus' eyes. He waved his hand over himself and Harry Potter appeared once more.

'You better give me a sample of what to expect in this courtship' Harry smiled tapping his cheek with his finger

Severus leaned in and kissed him gently on the cheek, a shiver ran the length of Harry's spine and his heart skipped a beat. He squeezed the headmaster's hand and walked out the door and down the spiral stairs, all the way back to his room he felt like he was floating on a cloud.

There was always one person he talked to when contemplating big decisions and lucky for him that person was on hand and knew his secret.

Molly was in the sitting room regaling Ginny with stories from her trip to Egypt. Harry had retreated to the peaceful sanctuary of his office; he'd had to bring a case file home from work and now was as good a time as any to cast his eye over it.

As usual he had cast an enhanced hearing spell, his wife had been on the cusp of whining to her mother before Harry left the room.

'How are things moving along?' Molly asked sipping her tea

'Alright I suppose' Ginny said sullenly

'Did you manage to slip him the potion?' Molly inquired

'Yep and even did the charms, he was like a wild animal, which was fine only that he finished in my mouth instead of in me, three times now he has done that, pulls out and finishes somewhere else' Ginny huffed

'There is another solution to this, if he is playing games' Molly countered

'What?' Ginny snipped

'There is an ancient potion, was used back before the first war, not so much now though it gives the appearance that a woman is pregnant, very realistic' Molly smirked

'So a fake pregnancy?' Ginny confirmed 'what happens when there's no baby after nine months?'

'In your case, you could say that you suffered a miscarriage due to the stress of losing your husband or we can snatch a baby from St Mungo's pass it off as yours, whichever you decide' Molly said conversationally

Ginny sat back in her chair and pondered what her mother had suggested, both options had merit, she would get attention and sympathy either way, although people would probably help out more if she had a child, that she had to raise on her own.

'Might have to pay a visit to St Mungo's' Ginny replied, taking a biscuit from the plate on the coffee table and munching away.

'Thought you might go that way' Molly smirked 'I'll get started on the potion'

Harry dropped the quill his was holding, he felt physically ill so much so he threw up in the bin beside the desk. It wasn't bad enough they were planning on ending his life to get his money, but to ruin someone's else's lives, to subject innocent people to pain and heartache? What the hell was wrong with them?

He couldn't think, his breath was ragged and his hands were shaking. Thinking on his feet, Harry grabbed the file he had been reading, picked up his wand and left his office. Molly and Ginny were in the sitting room when Harry came out, they looked like any other mother and daughter spending an evening together, Merlin how deceiving looks could be.

'I have to go out for awhile' Harry announced, pulling on his jacket

'Where to?' Ginny asked

'Work Kingsley needs to talk about a case' Harry provided

'At this time of night?' Ginny said incredulous

'Must be something important otherwise he wouldn't have got in touch' Harry replied 'I'll see you later, don't wait up'

He stepped into the fireplace and was gone in a whoosh of green flame. Ginny and Molly stared at the hearth for a few moments then returned to their tea and conversation.

Harry was in the training room at the Ministry, it was where all the Aurors in training came to hone their skills and where they performed the final task of their training.

The metal wizard whizzed around the room, spinning aimlessly and at times out of control as Harry fired spell after spell in its direction.

Panting with exertion Harry showed no mercy, channelling his rage at the metal object. Kingsley had been working late in his office and heard the racket coming from the training room.

Wand in hand he walked down the narrow corridor, taking careful measured steps towards the room, peering into the dimly lit room, the Minister for Magic lowered his wand, seeing it was Harry and not an intruder. He ducked as a spell ricocheted off the training wizard and came hurtling in his direction.

'Merlin Harry what has you so riled up?' Kingsley asked straightening his robes

Harry whipped his head around and saw the Minister standing near the door 'Sorry Kingsley just letting off some steam'

'I can see that' Kingsley replied 'what's caused it?'

Harry lowered his wand and slumped down on the long rows of seating along the far walls, tears were falling from his eyes.

The Minister came over and sat beside Harry, becoming concerned about what prompted his best Auror to visit his workplace at this time of the night.

Drying his eyes, Harry sat up and told Kingsley everything he'd overheard the Weasley women talking about hours before.

'I don't know how much longer I can keep this up' Harry sniffed

Kingsley sighed ' I know it's hard Harry, but please remember that we will not let anything happen to you, when the time comes they won't have a chance'

'What if they do it before the ball?' Harry asked

'They won't Harry; there is far too much riding on this for them to bow out early. Meanwhile I can work a bit of magic on that potion of Molly's make sure it doesn't do what it's supposed to' Kingsley snickered

'Thanks Kingsley' Harry gave him a weak smile

They can't hurt you Harry, we have a great many spells in place to prevent that' Kingsley assured him.

Together they went back to Kingsley's office and had a glass of fine Whiskey the Minister kept on hand for special occasions.

By the time Harry left the Ministry a few hours later he was much calmer and had resolved to wait it out a more months, taking comfort in the knowledge that he had good people on his side.

Hermione, Draco, Seamus and Luna gathered in the private rooms of their friend, he had decided to let them all in on what Severus had told him, figuring he'd kept enough secrets from them already. Hermione had brought along some snacks and Seamus the Butterbeer.

'Just like old times' Seamus beamed

'I have to tell you guys something, I think its something you'll all like' Harry started 'I couldn't get what Drake said to Severus out of my head, so last night I went and asked him about it'

Draco squealed with delight at what was coming next, clapping his hands together.

'Did he just squeal?' Harry asked Seamus

'The man has issues I am getting him looked at' Seamus said dryly

'That I can believe' Harry shook his head 'He told me that he has been in love with me for quite sometime, but had given up being able to tell me because he thought I had married Ginerva'

'Did he ravage you?' Draco asked boldly

'No he did not, but he did say he wanted to court me, show me how much he loves me. I asked for time to think about it, that's where you guys come in' Harry said shyly

'What's there to think about Harry, why not take the good with the bad, I know that there are bad things happening at the moment and you're scared, but remember that no one is going to let anything happen to you or clone Harry, so enjoy being wooed, romanced' Hermione said in her matter of fact tone

'Hermione's right Harry, Uncle Sev wouldn't have suggested you let him court you unless he was serious, and I for one know just how much he really does love you' Draco added 'he was a mess when he read that article about you marrying the troll, I have never seen him so down'

'Well I guess I am now about to be courted by the handsome, sexy Severus Snape' Harry grinned

'Yay' Draco shrieked clapping his hands together again

'Seamus when exactly were you thinking of getting professional help for your husband?' Harry chuckled

'Not soon enough' Seamus sighed

'Hey I don't hear any complaints when I squeal and shriek in bed thank you' Draco said indignantly

'Over sharing' Hermione cringed

'You're just jealous because no one is making you squeal' Draco teased

Having his tongue spelled to stick to the roof of his mouth rewarded him for the comment, Seamus rolled around on the floor in hoots of laughter at the sight of his refined husband muttering and mumbling every curse in both English and Irish.

Harry sat back and watched as his friends laughed and talked like they were all still teenagers in their dorm rooms.

He couldn't wait for this to be over so he could get back to being who he really was, there had been some element of doubt in his mind as to whether he even wanted to be Harry Potter again when it was all done and dusted or whether Blair Weston would become a permanent fixture.

Looking at his friends in this moment he knew what the answer would be when the time came.